Holding device for sliding-side cribs.



C. VALLONE. HOLDING DEVICE FOR SLIDING SIDE CRIBS. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 8. 1913.

1 23 II. 75., Patented July 3, 1917.

UNITED @TATEB PATENT @FTFE,

CHARLES VALLONE, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO BARCALO MANUFACTURING CO., OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

HOLDING DEVICE FOR SLIDING-SIDE CRIBS.

Application filed November 8, 1913.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that 1', CHARLES VALLONE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Holding Devices for Sliding-Side Cribs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to holding devices or clutches for the sides of childrens cribs of that kind having sliding sides'or side railings adapted to be raised for confining the child in the crib and to be lowered to facilitate placing the child in the crib. In metallic cribs of this type, the sliding side usually consists of upper and lower horizontal rails connected by upright bars and is arranged to slide on vertical guide rods which are fixed to the end frames of the crib and pass through eyes or holes in the top and bottom rails of the sliding side.

The object of the invention is to provide a desirable and practical device, especially applicable to these metallic cribs, for holding the sliding side in the raised position or at any desired elevation, which can be easily and conveniently operated, and which is of exceedingly simple, inexpensive and compact construction and does not detract from the neat appearance of the crib.

The holding devices or clutches forming the subject of this invention consist of levers or cams which are pivoted to the side, preferably in the top rail thereof, adjacent to the guide rods and are adapted to slip on the guide rods when the side is raised so as not to interfere with the upward movement of the side, and to grip the guide rods and prevent the downward movement of the side unless the clutch levers are released.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a childs crib provided with a holding device for the side embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary horizontal section, partly in plan, thereof, in line 22, Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in section. thereof, in line 33, Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional elevation thereof in line 4:4:, Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional elevation similar to Fig. 3, showing the clutch device released.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 3, 1917.

Serial No. 799,891.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the several figures.

A represents the corner post of one of the end frames of the crib, and B the top horizontal rail of one of the sliding sides or side railings b of the crib. The side 6, in the crib shown, which is of known construction, is arranged to slide on vertical guide rods which are fixed to the end frames of the crib and pass through guide loops or holes at the ends of the top and bottom rails of the sliding side. C indicates one of the guide rods and c the guide hole in the top rail B of the side through which the guide rod passes. The top rail is preferably tubular, as shown.

D represents one of the holding devices or clutches for the side. One of these clutches is provided at each end of the side but only one is shown since the clutches are alike except that the clutches at opposite ends of the side are oppositely arranged. The clutch or holding device consists of a lever which is pivoted in the top rail or tube B at the inner side of the guide rod, preferably by a rivet d, and projects out through a slot cl in the bottom of the rail or tube. The end or edge 0Z of the clutch lever adjacent to the guide rod is eccentric to the lever pivot (Z and is preferably serrated or toothed as shown, to insure a more positive grip on the guide rod. The toothed edge of the clutch lever is normally held in engagement with the guide rod by a spring E which tends to swing the lever on its pivot in a direction to cause the lever to grip the guide rod and bind the guide rod between the lever and the edge of the guide hole 0 at the opposite side of the guide rod. Preferably this spring is located inside of the tubular top rail B and consists of a substantially U-shaped spring wire, the cross bar of which is seated in a notch or recess (2 in the upper edge of the clutch lever D. The spring is bowed and bears between its ends against the upper portion of the walls of the tube B and at its inner extremity against the lower portion of the walls of the tube B so that the spring exerts a downward pressure against the clutch lever and yieldingly resists the movement of the lever in a direction to withdraw the toothed edge thereof away from the guide rod. By constructing the spring in this way it is retained in position in the top rail or tube B by the engagement of its cross bar in the notch c of the lever and it is not necessary to further secure the spring or provide additional securing means therefor. The parts of the clutch or holding device can, therefore, be assembled and secured in the top rail or tube expeditiously and this, coupled with the fact that the holding device or clutch consists of only three parts of small and inexpensive construction, makes the attachment very inexpensive.

\Vhen the side 6 is raised the clutch lever tends to swing on its pivot against the action of the spring E in a direction to disengage its toothed edge from the guide rod. The clutch lever can, therefore, slip upwardly on the guide rod and the side is thus adapted to be slid upwardly without the necessity of releasing the clutch lever by hand. lVhen the side has been raised and is released it will be prevented from descending by the clutch lever, which will tend to swing in the opposite direction under the action of the spring E and the frictional engagement of the lever with the guide rod, thereby binding the guide rod between the lever and the opposite edge of the guide hole 0 so that the side will be held in the raised position and cannot be lowered except by first releasing the clutch lever. A downward pressure on the side will cause the lever to grip the guide rod more tightly and positively prevent the downward movement of the side unless the clutch levers are released by pressing their inner ends or handles upwardly toward the top rail. The clutch levers can be readily released and held out of contact with the guide rod by the pressure of the fingers on the inner ends is small and only projects slightly below the top rail of the side. The holding device is therefore inconspicuous and does not ma terially detract from the neat appearance of the crib. It is exceedingly simple and inexpensive in construction, consisting of only three parts, the lever, the pivot therefor, and the spring, and the lever pivot or rivet (Z is the only part requiring to be fastened in place.

As the guide rods are firmly gripped between the clutch levers and the edges of the guide holes 0 any play of the top rail on the guide rods is prevented and the rattling of the side with the consequent objectionable noise is avoided.

I claim as my invention:

In a crib, the combination of a side having a horizontal tubular rail, and guide rods which pass through holes in the end portions of said rail and on which the side is adapted to slide, of a clutch lever which is pivoted inside of said tubular rail adja cent to each guide rod and has an operating portion projecting out through a slot in the bottom of said rail and a notch formed in the upper portion thereof, and a spring located and concealed inside of said tubular rail which holds said lever in frictional engagement with said guide rod in position to prevent-the downward movement of said side on said guide rod, said spring being'confined in said rail but detached therefrom and consisting of a U- sh'aped spring strip having the cross bar thereof seated in the notch in said lever whereby the spring is retained in place in the rail.

lVitness my hand this 6th day of November, 1913.

CHARLES VAL LO NE.

Copies 01' this patent may be obtained for five cents each by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

